AgroFresh Emphasizes Disinfection as a Core Element of Postharvest Food Safety

As the use of active substances continues to decline and food safety requirements become more demanding, AgroFresh advocates for disinfection as a structural component of postharvest food safety. During her presentation at Fruit Attraction, Angélique Jaunay, EMEA Regional R&D and Regulatory Team Leader at AgroFresh, explained that many postharvest losses and contaminations do not originate in the fruit itself but in the surrounding environment, processing lines, washing systems, or water tanks. She emphasized the need for continuous preventive control to ensure a truly safe environment.

Jaunay explains:

“Disinfection should not be limited to the fruit but extended to the entire environment where it is handled.”

In her presentation, she highlighted that facility hygiene is now an essential requirement to reduce microbiological pressure and prevent the proliferation of molds or resistant bacteria.

Beyond fungicides: creating safe environments

AgroFresh noted that the reduction in available fungicides is increasing fruit sensitivity and fostering the emergence of new pathogens. In this context, the FreshStart™ range provides a complementary solution based on controlled oxidation, using hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid as active ingredients.

These formulations act by contact, disrupting cell membranes and denaturing microbial proteins, ensuring rapid, residue-free action. They can be applied through various methods such as clean-in-place systems, spraying, or fogging, adapting to different facility types and processing needs.

Jaunay explained that the stability of these formulations is one of the keys to their effectiveness, allowing them to maintain activity over time and deliver consistent results under different operating conditions. She also emphasized the importance of performing a prior cleaning with detergent before applying the disinfectant, as the presence of organic matter can reduce its efficiency.

The specialist pointed out that the combination of hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid provides a broad antimicrobial spectrum that remains effective even in the presence of residues or recirculated water, later decomposing into water, oxygen, and acetic acid. This makes it ideal for continuous disinfection programs and for cleaning lines or tanks where the risk of recontamination is higher.

Towards an integrated approach to postharvest hygiene

Jaunay adds:

“Cleaning removes visible dirt, but without disinfection, the microbiological safety needed to protect food cannot be achieved.”

 Following this approach, AgroFresh promotes a strategy based on successive layers of protection, encompassing everything from the cleaning of process water to the regular sanitation of packing lines and cold rooms.

With this vision, the company reinforces its commitment to a safer, more sustainable, and technologically advanced postharvest, supported by products that degrade rapidly without leaving residues. Several of these formulations also hold CAAE certification, confirming their compatibility with organic production under European Union regulations.

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